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BBC News
25-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Devon butterfly recorder warns of concerning species decline
The number of four species of butterfly in Devon were at their lowest for at least a decade in 2024, new figures Conservation said the number of silver-washed fritillary, dark green fritillary, wood white and small heath were lower than at any time in the past 10 numbers come from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) and Butterflies for the New Millennium (BNM).The charity's Devon branch recorder, Pete Hurst, said humans had "destroyed wildlife habitats", and said poor weather meant "already depleted" populations were vulnerable and unable to bounce back. It comes after the charity revealed 2024 was the fifth worse year overall for butterflies across the UK, with more than half of species in long-term decline for the first time on Hurst extracted figures for 10 local butterfly species in the figures showed the silver-washed fritillary was 26% lower than the previous lowest count and 38% lower for the whole 10-year dark green fritillary was 37% lower than the previous lowest count and 60% lower for the same 10-year period. "Unfortunately, these figures show concerning drops in the numbers of beloved local butterfly species in Devon," Mr Hurst added: "Unfortunately, these figures show concerning drops in the numbers of beloved local butterfly species in Devon. "This is in line with the national picture, and I would expect there to be similar reductions in other Devon species as well."Mr Hurst said long spells of wet weather would have had a "significant negative impact" on butterflies - but he said there was "much more at play".He said damage to habitats, pollution, and the use of pesticides on an "industrial scale" had contributed to the decline - adding climate change meant unusual weather was becoming "more and more usual".
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Last summer was second worst for common UK butterflies since 1976
Last summer was the fifth worst in nearly half a century for butterflies in Britain, according to the biggest scientific survey of insect populations in the world. For the first time since scientific recording began in 1976, more than half of Britain's 59 native species are in long-term decline. Nine species suffered their worst year on record, including the once-common small tortoiseshell, the small copper, small skipper, large skipper and green-veined white. Dr Richard Fox, the head of science at Butterfly Conservation, said the 'devastating' butterfly declines had been brought about by human actions. 'We have destroyed wildlife habitats, polluted the environment, used pesticides on an industrial scale and we are changing the climate,' he said. 'That means that when we have poor weather, these already-depleted butterfly populations are highly vulnerable and can't bounce back like they once did – and with climate change, that unusual weather is becoming more and more usual.' Common butterflies found in gardens, parks and the general countryside had their second-worst summer since 1976, with 51 of the 59 native species falling in number compared with 2023. Butterfly numbers fluctuate annually because of the fickle British climate, and the summer of 2024 was notable for its wet spring and relatively cool temperatures. But the data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), in which volunteers scientifically count butterflies at more than 3,000 sites across the country, reveals that 31 of the native species are in long-term decline. The decline of the small tortoiseshell is mystifying scientists because the butterfly was once ubiquitous in gardens and its caterpillars feed on stinging nettles, an extremely common plant. The summer of 2023 was the worst on record for the small tortoiseshell, only for the butterfly to suffer a further decline last year. While conservationists have scored notable successes with reviving critically endangered butterfly species in recent decades, among those experiencing their worst ever years were species already listed as threatened on the 'red list' for British butterflies: the grizzled skipper, small pearl-bordered fritillary and chalkhill blue. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Butterfly Conservation is leading calls this year to reduce council grass-cutting and encourage people to leave lawns long to benefit butterflies and other insects. Scientific research last year revealed that gardens with long grass increased butterfly abundance and species. 'By far the best thing we can do to help butterflies is to create more habitat,' said Fox. 'That is why we are calling on people and councils across the UK to pledge to not cut their grass this year from April to September: this simple act can make a real, immediate difference to butterflies, moths and other wildlife.'
